L's Still Flying High

COMMUNITY SPORTS

Fort Lauderdale's Girls' Basketball Team Still A Winner, Despite Overhaul.

December 17, 1997|By CYNTHIA THUMA Special to the Sun-Sentinel

On paper, this looked like a rough season for Fort Lauderdale High's girls' basketball team. Fortunately, the Flying L's don't play play on paper.

After advancing to the finals of last year's state Class 4A championships, where they lost to Orlando Jones, the Flying L's were decimated by graduation.

Center Cormisha Cotton, one of the most dominant players in the county, moved on to the University of Georgia. Point guard Porshia Jones, who had transfered from Nova in her senior year, moved on to Georgetown. Starting forward Carolyn Bonhomme also graduated, but has elected not to play college ball this year.

But the Flying L's are neither down nor out.

``People thought we'd be dead over here,'' Lauderdale coach Kaola King said with a chuckle. ``But we're not. We're striving, trying to find some consistency. That's been our challenge.''

And so far, the Flying L's are measuring up. Heading into the holidays, they're 11-4, with losses to Hallandale, South Broward and a pair to Dillard, all strong programs.

Where the team looked primarily to Cotton and Jones for scoring and leadership in the past, they're finding their depth and versatility are serving them well now.

``In the beginning, it was like uh-oh, but we knew we had to come together. Despite losing [last year's) seniors, we've welded ourselves into a really good team,'' said Noel Prevost, a senior shooting guard. ``We've built a team that's better than just its two top players. If we continue to play as a team, I think we'll accomplish our goal, and that's to go back to the state tournament.''

``We got a taste of it once,'' said Karen Roxborough, who has capably taken over Cotton's old spot at center. ``We feel if we play our best, we can go all the way.''

Roxborough and Prevost, both seniors who picked up significant playing time last season, are playing solidly for the Flying L's, and, along with the other seniors, are helping make the younger players feel comfortable on the court. In the past, the Flying L's offense relied on working the ball in to Cotton. Now , the team is setting up opportunities with hard work and pinpoint passing.

``That's the key, passing,'' Prevost said. ``That's what works best in breaking presses and doing our stuff.'' Another area in which the Flying L's are stronger this season is outside shooting. Prevost, Candace Cross, Latoya Young and Audrey Harris are all comfortable and accurate launching 3-point shots.

As Roxborough has gotten comfortable under the boards, her scoring average has inched upward. Her defense has improved, too.

``She might be a better defensive player than Cormisha was,'' said Fort Lauderdale athletic director Don Randolph. ``She plays offense differently, though. Cormisha had that little jumper that got her all those points. Karen likes the hook shot.''

``She's not living in her sister's shadow,'' King said. ``She's making her own. But one thing she and her sister have in common is court smarts. They both see the whole court really well.''

Taking over as point guard for Jones is the team's only freshman, Maranda Hankerson, who is learning on the job, but has won King's confidence. ``That's why she's out there,'' King said.

If the Flying L's manage to return to postseason play, it will be in a new classification. Fort Lauderdale moved up to 5A this year and along with St. Thomas Aquinas, Boca Raton, South Plantation and Stranahan now make up District 15-5A. Their toughest competition should come from St. Thomas, also up from 4A, and a defending district champ.

The Flying L's can concentrate on what it takes to win now that they've convinced themselves they have the personnel and talent to do so.